USDA International Egg and Poultry

USDA International Egg and Poultry - 25 March 2015

Turkey Poultry and Egg Situation

In 2014 Turkey’s number of poultry totaled 298 million birds, up 10.3% when compared to the previous year. The number of broiler hens increased by 12.7%; laying hens increased by 5.7%; turkeys increased 2.2%; ducks increased 8.7% and geese increased 20.7%.

Provisional data from the Turkish Statistical Institute showed broiler meat production increased 7.8% and turkey meat production grew 22.8%. Egg production increased 3.9% in 2014 compared to the previous year.

Turkish broiler industry experienced a decline in demand in the domestic market during the first quarter of the marketing year due to negative press on biotech feed items. But domestic demand and exports helped the industry to rebound during the second quarter. However, during the summer political unrest in the leading market, Iraq, hurt exports of broiler meat, but particularly egg exports. Both industries are export dependent for growth and Iraq is the largest market for Turkish poultry products. About 48% of the egg exports and 56% of broiler meat exports are to Iraq.

Turkish broiler meat exports worldwide increased about 10% during the first nine months of CY 2014. While there were export difficulties to the Middle Eastern countries due to disorder in the region, Russian sanctions on Western countries opened a new venue to the Turkish poultry industry. While egg exports to Russia are still small, poultry meat (all MDM) exports increased significantly and expected to reach about 150,000 MT annually. MDM sales is particularly important for the Turkish poultry industry since the Government of Turkey has forbidden the use of MDM in processed poultry products domestically and this item was only used in rendering.